Ludhiana February 23
A one-month integrated vocational training course in food processing and preservation for 50 unemployed youths of Punjab, sponsored by director-general, centre for training and employment, Punjab, concluded here yesterday.

The PAU additional director of extension education, Dr S.P. Mehra, awarded certificates to participants. He exhorted the youth to work hard and go in for small-scale entrepreneurs while maintaining quality of their products.

Dr Neelam Mahajan, course coordinator, disclosed that participants were thoroughly exposed to the scope of fruit and vegetable industry in the state with regard to self-employment opportunities in post-harvest management and value-added products like fresh-cut, frozen, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, herbal technology, etc.

Training was also imparted in preparation of canned fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, muraba, mixed vegetables pickle, lemon pickle, mushroom pickle, chutney, squashes, ready-to-serve drinks, sherbets, syrup, tomato puree, soup, ketchup, potato chips, preparation of vinegar, making of suji, sago, potato, rice papad, rice vadian and drying of amla and drying of green leafy vegetables.

The functioning of solar dryer and solar cooker was also shown to trainees. Nutritional and health benefits of fruits and vegetables also made an important part of the course. They were also informed about various schemes for unemployed rural youth and credit facilities available to them.

The participants were taken for visit to food processing industry and farms during the course.

Ludhiana, February 23
New Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, held a farewell function for the outgoing students of Class XII. It was hosted by the junior students. The function was presided over by director Ashok Setia.

The function started with a prayer and cultural items like Punjabi folk dance, bhangra, break dance, one-minute show and fusion. It was enjoyed by the students.

In his presidential address, the director of school, advised the students to be good human beings and useful citizen for the society. Rajesh Prashar, principal of the school, spoke on the challenges they would have to accept in their life. He further said their attitude would play an important role in their life. Positive thinking was a golden rule for success in life. He also wished the students success in their final examination.

The captains and vice-captains of all four houses were awarded trophies for their performance during the session 2006-07. Trophies were also awarded to nine students who had 100 per cent attendance during the session.

The function ended with a vote of thanks by Harman Bawa, a student.

Ludhiana, February 23
Concealment of true facts from the Consumer Forum and dragging the Ludhiana Improvement Trust unnecessarily into prolonged litigation has proved dearly to a person. Coming down heavily, the forum dismissed the complaint with costs of Rs 5000.

The complainant, K. N. Dua of Faridbad, Haryana, had submitted before the forum that he had deposited Rs 500 for the allotment of a plot in 1986. After a lapse of more than 26 years the Improvement Trust failed to allot him a plot. He had further pleaded that the trust authorities were treating the amount deposited by him against his acquired plot under local displaced category(LDP), which was incorrect.

On the other hand, the counsel for the Ludhiana Improvement Trust submitted that the complaint was hopelessly time-barred. It was pleaded that the complainant was informed vide letter dated December 30, 1982 that he did not come under the definition of local displaced person. So, he was not entitled for any plot.

Thereafter, the complainant had moved the Punjab Government, which sent the representation to the trust. The complainant was again informed in 1992 and in 1998 that he was not entitled for any plot. Moreover, the trust authorities denied any payment by the complainant.

After hearing both the parties, the consumer forum observed that this complaint was filed in January 2003, which was dismissed by the forum in December 2003.

However, the complainant also had filed another complaint on same facts in May 2003, which was also dismissed in October 2005. But he concealed the fact of filing two cases on the same issue.

Moreover, the forum observed that in one complaint ,the complainant had alleged that he had deposited Rs 500 for getting plot under the LDP category, as the trust had acquired his residential house, against which he was also paid some compensation.

But that complaint was dismissed. The complainant in another complaint alleged that he had not deposited the amount against LDP category but for fresh allotment. The forum observed that the complainant had taken contradictory stand. — OC

Ludhiana, February 23
In continuation with a joint endeavour to promote photography as an art, Drishtikon-2007 now enters its sixth exposition with a photo exhibition on nature by photo artists TPS Sandhu and Ranjodh Singh at Sundial Hall, Sutlej Club, Ludhiana. The exhibition is on from February 24 to 26 from 11 am to 9 pm.

The sole objective of this exhibition is to provide peace and harmony among men.

The exhibition will be inaugurated tomorrow by information commissioner P.P.S. Gill and Ashok Kumar Gupta, deputy commissioner, Ludhiana, will preside over this function.

Sandhu and Ranjodh Singh have made the city proud by their achievements in the field of art-photography. The duo has been holding exhibitions of their photographs, focusing on nature, since 2002. This is an annual feature, three out of the five exhibitions have been held at Sutlej Club, Ludhiana.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, they said both of them had been inspired by Sobha Singh. It was on August 21, 1983, that this great artist inaugurated a photo exhibition at PU Extension Library at Ludhiana.